Atheism is simply the absence of belief that any deities exist. It say’s nothing about the studied conclusion that a person may or may not have come to.
There is so much that all of us don’t know, that I find it amazing that someone who has no idea how a computer hard drive is made or what ingredients are needed to make tiramisu, can declare that they alone know the secrets of the origins of the universe.
my undisputed hero of the bible is known by several names, depending on who you talk to...devil, satan, lucifer, etc.. read it, and you'll find that he was the only one who really stood up for you.. he asserted that you could make decisions for yourself...and told you the very real truth that, just because the piece of meat in your chest stops thumping, you positively do not 'die'.. he was your hero.
he stood up to a daddy-maniac and said, 'just because you made us doesnt mean you have the right to tell us what to do.
i thought we were free?'.
I would like to say that I have long believed Satan to be a more moral character than the Vengeful, control freak Jehovah, as depicted in the Bible.
But I as I am not a believer, I can’t say.
i'm just curious as i'm on the outside looking in when it comes to relationships, yet i recall undercover explaining to me a year or so ago on another thread how his wife was clingy one morning before he went to work.
it made me wonder as someone who's single, what do you feel when you need to be somewhere and your significant other is clingy at the moment?
or when your out and about and he/she is clingy, is it flattering, irritating?
A man either likes or dislikes a clingy women depending on the agenda he has.
What most women can’t stand is a needy man.
These and other gems of wisdom brought to you by the Gladiator - at no cost.
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Andrew Sh "I just want to show that belief in evolutionary theory is a preference rather than anything else; that the evolutionist believes it simply because he prefers to believe it, not because the scientific evidence unmistakeably points to it."
We are still waiting!
By the way, you have utterly failed to address Cofty's excellent post 5th above this one. Quoting from the Bible won't cut it.
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Is the Bible without error? The Bible is an error by today's standards.
Early wheels were made out of stone. We now have low-profile tyres on alloy wheels. If you want to keep up, I suggest you update your wheels.
and the helicopter moms who love them.. .
Being grown up means being able to do that without needing to use a chair!
why does religion often do more harm than good?.
if we love our neighbor as ourself---we must first love ourselves.. if we do to others what we would want done to us---our sense of self welfare, once again, is the criterion.. the wicked man knows how to give his own son good gifts, we are told, and god is our parent eager to do the same.. yet, religious institutions (representing god) are weighed down with judgemental practices, intrusive meddling, preoccupation with superficiality and lip service to the "greater good".. human repair is not the objective so much as human control.. .
this raises what i regard as a very important question: shouldn't the one who is weak, frail, mortal and vulnerable be the object of improvement by the living god?.
Religion is a tool. It can be used for good or to do harm, the same as engineering can be used to make tanks or tractors, atom bombs or nuclear power. Religion is guilty of much but it is also used as a scapegoat. Humans will do what they want to and find an excuse to justify it.
Humans are by nature mystical creatures, living a world that has become an experiment in engineering. Some people find great emotional comfort in pursuing a spiritual path. It fulfils a deep need that must be channelled into something. It helps them find balance in a modern world. It is a luxury I can no longer enjoy myself.
Perhaps abolishing all belief that there may be something more to life than we can perceive from our outlook on planet earth, could do more harm that good to many peaceful people.
The Men at Bethel that run the Watchtower Society do seek to control. However, most rank and file Jehovah's Witness do not realize that they are part of a high control group, that uses tried and tested techniques to control them. As the group of sincere bible students under Pastor Russell has grown into an international organization, controlling the members and keeping them in step has become a priority.
The requirements for membership are the same as all other high control groups or cults. The leadership demand unquestioning obedience and faith in the organization. All pronouncements from their leaders are unique and truthful. Any member that disagrees or questions is to be warned, watched and then if not repentant, disassociated and shunned.
The average Jehovah's Witness is motivated by fear of losing something they have come to value.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1bzp1wr234&feature=relmfu.
May I interject that - perfection is relative. There is no bench mark for perfection; which makes the idea of an unchanging perfect god, and an original perfect couple, unrealistic. What is perfect or ideal can become obsolete with the march of time. Let’s hope this doesn’t happen to humans.
nudists let it all hang out.. "look at me!
" is their motto.. being the center of attention doesn't bother them as much as it encourages them to be all they can be...in full public view.. .
in fact, exhibitionism is at the core of this personality.
Things that irritate me in restaurants include:
People talking or laughing too loudly
Getting drunk and agressive
Being rude to waiters
Not leaving a tip
Coughing all the time
People leaving most of the food they have ordered
Children misbehaving
Sloppy waiters
Over cooked steak,
Overpriced cheap wine
Scruffy people
Talking into mobile devices
People sneezing into their hands and then wiping their hands on their chair or the table cloth
Vegetarians making loud remarks about carnivores and gladiators and their choice of outfit
People quietly thanking their god for the food - I can live with.
Bon appetite!
